Shoe strap



F. A. BALLOU SHOE STRAP April 29, 1930.

Filed Feb. 6, 1928 INVENTOR.

Patented Apr. 29, 1930 UNITE srrss FREDERICK A. BALLOU, or NAYATI, RHODE ISLAND, Assmnon TO B. A. BALLoU & 00. Inc, or PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION or nnonn ISLAND SHQE srnar Application filed February 6, 1928. Serial No. 252,214.

This invention relates to an improved construction of extendible shoe strap; and has for its object to provide a shoe strap of this character of a length to extend over the instep of the wearer and is provided at its ends with attaching means for securing the strap ends to the margins of the shoe upper.

A further object of the invention is to provide an extendible shoe strap of this character having an extendible core connected to the attaching end members and having a flexible sleeve covering the core.

The invention further consists in the provision of a cuff member attached to each of the clips or attaching end members into which the ends of the sleeve or covering slidably extend.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shoe showing my improved strap attached thereto.

Figure 2 is a top view of one of the end at taching members hingedly connected to the cuff member.

Figure 3 shows the under side of the cuff attaching member shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a central side elevation of the members illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.

Figure 5 is a top view of the strap in extended position.

Figure 6 shows one construction of my strap in sect-ion.

Figure 7 is an enlarged view showing an end portion of the strap illustrating a chain for limiting the extending motion of the strap and showing the sleeve as withdrawn from the outer edge of the cuff member.

Figure 8 illustrates the strap in contracted position with the strap limiting chain slack and the end sleeve extending into the cuff member.

Figure 9 is a section on line 9-9 of F1gure 5.

Figure 10 is a perspective view showing another form of core which is constructed of expandible wire fabric through tends .a pair of springs; Figure 11 illustrates a strap of my'imwhich exproved character with an ornamental member centrally mounted thereon.

It is found in the practical use of extendible shoe straps of this character of advantage to;

provide such a strap naving attaching memers at itsends to be clamped or otherwise attached to the marginal edges of a shoe and to have a flexible extendible core connected to these attaching end members, the core being covered with a flexible sleeve preferably of non-metallic 'material such as leather, or

fabric and in some instances to provide a cuff a clamping finger 12, the latter preferably having a tooth 13 to engage the inner surface of the shoe margins and the inner end of this top plate is rolled to provide an eye -:14 through which a pivot pin- 15 is passed to connect this clamping member to the metal scuff member'16. v A core member 17 may be provided of any suitable flexible extendiblematerial such for.

instance as a coilspring wound into the desired form in cross section, the opposite ends of the spring being connected as at 18 to'the pins-19 in the opposite cuffs 16. Over this core member I loosely draw a sleeve 20 of suitable flexible material preferably nonmetallic material, such for instance as leather, fabric, celluloid or other suitable material which need not be necessarily extendible.

This sleeve may be connected at its middle portion by a pin 21 extending through it and the core if desired or any suitable means may be employed for connecting this sleeve to the core. The opposite ends of this sleeve i1 may be extended into their respective cufi members 16 to slide therein as the strap is extended and contracted. This sleeve and its cuffs may be suitably ornamented to serve as a handsome finish to the strap.

In some instances, instead of forming the core 17 bywin'ding a spring Wire into a coil of the desired shape in cross section I may employ other constructions such as .a metal fabric 22 through which a pair of coil springs 23 may extend to be connected to the opposite sleeve pins 19 and over this I may draw the covering sleeve 20 of leather or other desired flexible material. 7 I r r In some instances, I may extend a chain or other suitable member through the core to limit the amount of its extension while in other instances the metal fabric 22 may serve this purpose.

In some instances I may desire to mount said core, and a cut]? connected to each attaching member slidingly engaging the end por-' or attach an ornament 24c to'the strap as best -illustrated in Figure 11.

My improved extendible shoe strap when covered with a leather sleeve may conform in'shade or color to the rest of the shoe or it may be ornamented in any suitable way to suit the taste of the individual-wearer.

The foregoing'description'is directed solely towards the construction illustrated, but I taching member at each of its ends, an extendible core connected to said attaching members, and a flexible tubular sleeve secured to and covering said core substantially from one clip to the'other. V

2. An extendible shoe strap having an attaching member at each of its ends, and a flexible extendible core'connected to said attaching end members and a flexible non-ma tallic tubular sleeve secured toand over said core and forming the uninterrupted com plete outer surface of said strap;

3. An extendible shoe straphaving an attaching member at eachrend thereof; a flexible extendible core connected to said end members, and a leather sleeve over said core and telescopic engagement with said end members. I I r 4. An extendible shoe strap having an attaching member at each end'thereof, a continuous flexible extendible metallic core connected to said end members, and a continuous flexible non-metallic sleeve covering said core and in telescopic engagement with said end members. 7 V r r V 5, An extendibleshoe strap having an attachingmember at each end thereof, aflexible extendible core connected to" said end members, a flexible non-metallic sleeve over 

